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If you are a Harry Potter fan and you’re visiting Osaka in Japan, then you better make sure to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios!
It’s an easy day excursion from Osaka and an amazing chance to step into the Harry Potter World and get pretend to be a witch or wizard for the day – and adults will enjoy this too, not just kids.
Because we’re not all blessed with time, and we want to maximise our time at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I’ve prepared this guide on the best things to do and tips for visiting, so you can go without the stress.
If you are ready to hop on the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾, it’s time to immerse yourself in the magical world that you fell in love with in the Harry Potter books and movies.
Things To Do At The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Japan
1. Look for the Forbidden Forest
Once you have entered the park, it is fairly easy to spot the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area.
Just look for a path with a forest at the end, or hand over your park map to one of your kids and see if they can show you the way.
Right after you immerse yourself in the trees you will hear Hedwig’s famous theme all around you.
Next you will see an exact replica of the Flying Ford Anglia, which is from the Chamber of Secrets.
You may recall that it was used to rescue Harry from his home on Privet Drive by the Weasley brothers, but they crashed it into a Whomping Willow on their way back to Hogwarts.
2. Be enchanted by the rides
One of the best parts about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is all the rides. Here are some of our favourite rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Japan.
Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey
The Forbidden Journey in 4K3D is the area’s most popular attraction. It’s locatedin Hogwarts Castle towards the back of the world and I highly recommend that you leave shopping and browsing until later so that you can beat the crowds. The queue to this ride can get SUPER busy later with crazy wait times!
Even the line-up for this ride is fun as you get to walk through Hogwarts on the way.
You will get to see things like the Sorting Hat, Dumbledore’s Office, the Great Hall, and the Gryffindor Common Room.
It is a bit strange because all the characters talk in Japanese, which gave us plenty of giggles.
Once on the ride you will be transformed into a wizard and experience riding around on a magical brooms exploring different areas of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
You will also get to participate in a Quidditch match. Our kids loved this ride, although it left me with a touch of motion sickness!
Flight of the Hippogriff
As you exit Hogwarts, you will see another fun ride. This one is called the Flight of the Hippogriff.
Whilst it is like a rollercoaster, it is pretty tame and very family-friendly – no loops or upside down sections.
From the ride you can see the Care of Magical Creatures class, which is quite the perk for Hippogriff lovers.
3. Get your wand from Ollivander’s Wand Shop
After you’ve enjoyed the fun rides, it is time to get your wand at Ollivander’s Wand Shop.
“Everyone gets their wands from Ollivander’s,” says Hermione in the Deathly Hallows. Once you enter Ollivander’s at Universal Studios, you can see why!
You will be able to choose from a massive collection of character wands. Our one daughter snapped up Hermione’s wand, whilst our youngest decided to go with Ginny’s wand.
One thing to keep in mind is that those who choose a “Wand Magic” will get the opportunity to cast spells as they walk around Hogsmeade.
It really adds to the magic of it all!
There are about 10 magic stations throughout the area (check the map in your wand box) where wand owners can cast spells.
Our girls loved making a chimney fire up, as well as open some suitcases at the train. They loved it!
4. Grab some lunch in Hogsmeade Village
Even the food in this area has a Harry Potter theme.
If you are feeling hungry head on over to the Three Broomsticks Inn, which was frequented in the books by Harry, Hermione and Ron.
There are quite a few dishes here, and the food is pretty good for theme park standards. Don’t forget to wash it all down with some Butterbeer.
If you can, try to get a table outside as you can see some amazing views of the Black Lake and Hogwarts School of Magic.
If you’re visiting without kids and you want to get a drink, head to the Hog’s Head, which is next door.
5. Pick up some souvenirs
No trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is complete without getting some souvenirs.
So now is the time to have a browse around the shops. There are several shops where you can buy souvenirs such as a sorting hat, costumes, Harry Potter house jumpers, owls, lollies, and so much more!
Some of the best souvenir shops are Dervish and Banges, Gladrags Wizardwear (for cloaks and costumes), and Zonko’s Joke Shop.
Don’t forget to visit Honeydukes Sweet Shop. For those that are feeling brave, purchase Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. Just remember that the flavors are sometimes, well, “interesting.”
For a tamer treat, go for the chocolate frogs. Don’t worry, they won’t try to hop away!
You will find it has all sorts of items that were mentioned in the Harry Potter books, so even if you aren’t looking for anything sweet to eat, it’s still fun to browse around the shop.
6. Visit Hagrid’s Hut
7. Walk down Diagon Alley
The shopping street in Harry Potter World looks just like Diagon Alley, the shopping street in the books and movies.
Walk down the cobbled streets lined with medieval shops and some of your favourite store names from the books.
This is where you’ll find Ollivander’s, Quality Quidditch Supplies, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Flourish and Blotts, and at the very end, Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
What to Take to Universal Studios Japan
To make sure you go prepared, be sure to pack the following items.
- Comfy Shoes: Make sure that you are wearing some really comfy shoes. You will spend most of the day on your feet. Be prepared for long wait-lines of up to 240-min during high season periods. You can find a list of our favourite comfy flat shoes here.
- Day Backpack: We prefer travelling with a backpack so that we can have our hands free to hold our kids’ hands. We love using diaper backpack bags because they have a wipes compartment, insulated pockets for water bottles as well as many other pockets for organization.
- Water Bottles: We always take our own reusable water bottles with us. Most places will always be happy to refill your bottles free of charge.
- Sun Hat: You will find that you will spend plenty of time standing in the sun in the ride lines, so make sure you take a decent sun hat with you.
- Universal Studios Japan App: Download the USJ app which will allow you to check on wait times for rides and attractions as well as to quickly look up show schedules.
- Compact Camera: And lastly, don’t forget to take your camera along! We find it best to take small compact cameras along to theme parks. You can find a great selection of compact cameras here.
Pre-Purchase Your Tickets to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Japan
Before heading to Universal Studios, it’s a clever idea to pre-purchase your timed entry ticket.
While you can purchase your tickets at the park itself, it tends to be extremely busy and there are long queues for the ticket booth.
When you buy your ticket online with Klook, you get to use a separate entrance where they quickly scan your QR code and you enter – easy!
Make sure you buy the Universal Express Pass that includes entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is not included with the standard ticket to Universal Studios.
This pass will also shorten your wait times at popular attractions.
FAQs About Visiting Harry Potter World
When is the best time to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Japan?
The best time to go is on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as this is when schools are in session and there will be fewer crowds, just other tourists like yourself. Monday and Tuesday is when Japanese schools organize excursions, so it’s best to avoid these days.
What time does the Wizarding World of Harry Potter USJ open?
The opening time varies depending on the day, but it’s usually somewhere between 8:00am and 9:00am, and it stays open until 10:00pm so you have a long time to explore. Check out opening hours here.
Final Thoughts
If you have any time left over, don’t forget to hop into some of the other worlds and explore the rest of USJ, such as Super Nintendo World.
A day at Universal Studios Japan is worth it, no matter what your age.
The park was a hit with our kids and even us adults had a fabulous day out too!
Video: Watch our time at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Florida
Here is a video to show you how much fun we had at Universal Studios in Orlando, which is basically the same!
More Japan Travel Tips
Need more inspiration for your trip to Japan? Here are some other helpful guides!
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Are you planning on visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan? What are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.